About Burcot Solar Farm
The 49.9 MW Burcot Solar Farm is a co-located solar PV and BESS site located in South Oxfordshire.
- The total site area measures around 140 acres
- The site will comprise nearly 80,000 solar modules, capable of generating 50 MWp of renewable energy.
- A range of new habitats, including grassland, native woodland, and hedgerows with a diverse mix of species will be introduced.
- Nesting and foraging opportunities for birds will be provided, including dedicated skylark breeding plots.
- Refuge, breeding, and hibernation grounds for reptiles and amphibians will be introduced.
- The site will generate enough green energy each year to power approximately 18,000 homes per annum.
Technical Solutions at Burcot Solar Farm
Burcot Solar Farm will use the co-location of solar PV and battery energy storage systems to increase the reliability of the energy supply and further ease the pressure on the local and national grid. It will also benefit from the use of south-facing bifacial solar panels, which will increase the efficiency and output of the installed modules.
Screening trees and acoustic fencing will help preserve the existing look and feel of the area, while a hedgerow and tree planting schedule will utilise historic maps and aerial photography to help restore the grain of the landscape to what it was during the pre-war years.
As a result of these design and technology measures, we will be able to maximise the output, and therefore the amount of clean energy going into the national grid, without needing to extend the size of the solar farm.
Further details about the original planning application and the appeal are available on the Councilās website here.
Biodiversity Net Gain at Burcot Solar Farm
Burcot Solar Farm, and the land surrounding it, benefit from substantial ecological enhancements, thanks to the 86.7% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) measures. These measures include the creation of new habitats for birds, bats, and invertebrates, as well as the planting of native trees and hedgerows around the site.
On top of the ecological benefits from our BNG enhancements, Burcot Solar Farm will also support continued agricultural use through sheep grazing. Special grass and wildflower mixes will be planted under and around the solar modules to provide the sheep with the right levels of nutrition, while they can also use the panels for shelter from strong rain or sun.
Once the project lifecycle has concluded , the land will be reinstated back to its original purpose.